Shay Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Shay has Irish roots, meaning 'admirable' or 'gift.' It evolved from historical forms such as Seaghdha and Shai. The name is often associated with positive traits and has no biblical relevance. It gained popularity in the late 20th century and is viewed positively in modern culture.
The name Shay is most popular in Utah, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Generation Alpha generation in the Northeast region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Shay has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, too falling for female in Northeast, too falling for male in South, too falling for female in South, too falling for male in West, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Shay' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 6773rd out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 3750th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1074th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 997th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 1632nd out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 1900th out of 23106 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 4268th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1288th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1305th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 1567th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 1179th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Shay' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Shay"
Pronunciation
/ʃeɪ/
Origin
Irish
Etymology
The name Shay is derived from the Irish name 'Seaghdha,' which means 'admirable' or 'fine.' It is also considered to be a variation of the Hebrew name 'Shai,' meaning 'gift.'
Meaning
admirable, fine, gift
Language Evolution
Seaghdha, Shai, Shay
Historical Usage
Shay gained popularity as a given name in the late 20th century, particularly in English-speaking countries.
Variants & Derivatives
Shaye, Shai
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Shay is viewed as a modern and stylish name, often associated with creativity and individuality.
Famous People
Shay Mitchell, Shay Serrano, Shayne Ward
Explore More Shay Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Shay"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Shay"
"Shay" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 6773rd of 6773 | 5 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 3750th of 7552 | 84 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 1074th of 10718 | 920 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 997th of 16616 | 1,631 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 1632nd of 24088 | 1,333 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 1900th of 23106 | 974 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 4268th of 12526 | 160 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 1288th of 19264 | 1,390 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 1305th of 27321 | 1,910 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 1567th of 35406 | 2,092 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 1179th of 30306 | 2,490 |
Regional Popularity of "Shay" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
41.57% 1221st/2937 |
50.82% 1770th/3483 |
34.91% 1228th/3518 |
24.16% 977th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
26.38% 972nd/3685 |
39.89% 1785th/4475 |
24.64% 1280th/5194 |
14.45% 913th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
36.75% 1684th/4582 |
30.91% 1596th/5164 |
33.88% 2478th/7313 |
20.21% 1508th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
43.85% 1747th/3984 |
31.51% 1414th/4487 |
49.15% 3353rd/6822 |
23.50% 1475th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Shay" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - |
88.07% 2444th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
42.22% 1240th/2937 |
67.70% 2358th/3483 |
36.61% 1288th/3518 |
33.83% 1368th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
35.28% 1300th/3685 |
54.75% 2450th/4475 |
27.32% 1419th/5194 |
21.69% 1370th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
36.21% 1659th/4582 |
34.62% 1788th/5164 |
27.27% 1994th/7313 |
20.93% 1562nd/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
23.47% 935th/3984 |
18.90% 848th/4487 |
28.77% 1963rd/6822 |
17.22% 1081st/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Shay"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Shay" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.